Topic 5
Safety Inspections
Review:
Hazard
is a potential source of harm and may cause damage to cause damage to health, life,
property, or any other interest of value. It may be substances, events, or circumstances
that can establish threats when their nature would allow them
For example:
• Electrical Hazard
• Chemical Hazard
• Fire Hazard
Review:
Accident
an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically
resulting in damage or injury.
Example accidents in workplaces according to
National Safety Council
• Falls from Heights
• Struck by Objects
• Collisions
• Electrocution
• Fire and Explosions
SAFETY
INSPECTION
• is a systematic examination of a place or activity
to ensure that no one will be harmed. It is a
formalized and properly documented process of
identifying hazards in the workplace
• Safety inspection is conducted to identify
possible dangers to occupants and staff, as well
as possibilities for corrective action.
NOTE:
OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY AS MANY
ERRORS AS WE CAN AND CORRECT THEM,
THROUGH EDUCATION, PROCESS
CHANGES, EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION OR
ANY OTHER WAY NEEDED TO ENSURE
THAT ALL PEOPLE IN THAT AREA GO
HOME SAFELY AT THE END OF EACH DAY
Why should we conduct safety inspection?
Why should we conduct safety inspection?
Regular workplace inspections are essential in
1 preventing all sorts of incidents, injuries,
illnesses, property damages and etc.
An inspection helps you identify hazards or
2 processes that are not working efficiently and
decide what measures to take before they lead
to an accident or incident.
3 It can eliminate risks
4 Promotes safe work practices
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
• Entire workplace
• Interiors and Exteriors work environments
• Emergency Exits
• Equipment operation and maintenance practices
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
What to Inspect?
Who can carry out
safety inspection?
Who can carry out safety inspection?
People outside of your business can conduct your safety
inspection such as
• Enforcement officers
• Insurers
• Consultants or specialist inspectors
• Safety Coordinators
Who can carry out safety inspection?
But then you should not depend on these external inspections
alone to make sure your workplace is safe.
Employees, supervisors or managers may be a part of the inspection
team or they may be called upon to help with certain aspects of the
inspection to provide advice and information on any matters
identified. It is important the inspection team includes people with
suitable expertise to provide advice and information on any matters
identified during the inspection
How to conduct a safety inspection?
1. Inspections can be carried out by simply walking
around your premises to put right any issues there and
then.
2. Look for unsafe conditions and unsafe acts.
• Unsafe conditions might include slip, trip and fall hazards like
uneven floors or trailing cables. They could also include faulty
or damaged work equipment and electrical appliances and
systems.
• Unsafe acts could include not wearing PPE or
not following safe working procedures.
Inspections can be formal, informal, recorded
or unrecorded.
Types of Safety Inspection
Safety Checklist Inspections
A checklist is very good for the regular inspection of specific
items. However, they may not be as useful in identifying
previously unrecognized hazards. Many different checklists are
available from a variety of sources. Unfortunately, since these
ready-made checklists are generic, they rarely meet the needs of a
specific workplace, task or job. However, you may find them
useful to inspect a part of your area
General Knowledge Safety Inspection
Another way of conducting inspections is to use the information
you have in your head and just walk around looking at what is
going on. You do not use a pre-made checklist for this type of
inspection. This method keeps you from getting stuck looking at
the same things every time. However, the effectiveness of this
inspection method is dependent on the individual's level of
knowledge about workplace related safety practices. It is
important to document the results of the inspection and any
action taken in resolving or addressing safety hazards
Risk Mapping Safety Inspections
The third inspection method is called risk mapping. It is a good
method to use at a safety meeting where everyone there is
familiar with the workplace or process. This technique uses a
map/drawing of the workplace or a list of steps in a process.
People in the group then tell the leader the hazards they recognize
and where they are located in the workplace or process. The
leader uses different colors or symbols to identify different types
of hazards on the map or list of steps. This type of inspection is
valuable for involving all employees in identifying and resolving
safety hazards
STEPS IN RISK MAPPING
1. First develop a
symbol/color key
for the hazards
2. Identify and list hazards
into groups
3. Review the worksite map or
the process steps and mark the
hazards. (A sample floor plan
with the hazard symbols added)
REFERENCES:
• https://www.process.st/safety-inspection/
• https://ehs.missouri.edu/work/safety-insp#:~:text=A%20safety%20inspe
ction%20is%20an,important%20for%20property%20insurance%20issu
es
.
• https://ehs.missouri.edu/work/safety-insp#:~:text=A%20safety%20inspe
ction%20is%20an,important%20for%20property%20insurance%20issu
es
.
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/software-inspec
tion
• https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/list_gen.html
• https://www.safetymint.com/safety-inspection-checklist.htm
• https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2017/05/12/Why-Do-Safety-
Inspections.aspx
